I have had this project on my mind for awhile now. There is something so satisfying about embellishing a lampshade, and I have been patiently waiting for that magical moment where a few hours, inspiration and the necessary materials all converge.
That moment was yesterday!
And this is what emerged.
Remember this fabric? A frothy fairytale of ruffled organza on tulle. So beautiful as yardage, just crying out to be a curtain or a fantasy skirt.
It just didn't know yet that it also wanted to be a lampshade.
This darling burlap shade was purchased at Target a few weeks ago, with a totally different project in mind. At $9.99, it is the perfect blank canvas. This project could also be done on a plain white or cream shade, but I loved the idea of the sheer ruffles over a warm and rustic base.
I began with one yard of fabric, and as it turned out I used only about one-third of it. I wanted a full yard so that the lengths of ruffle would not be too short and require too much "piecing". Start by carefully cutting each row of ruffle from the base. On the original fabric, the ruffles are about 2" apart, and I wanted them closer together on the lamp for a very lush and full look.
This is the most time consuming part of the project. Just go slowly so as not to cut through the stitching. My shade required 10 rows of ruffles at 36" each.
Beginning at the bottom edge, I used Tacky Glue to adhere the fabric to the shade. Any full-bodied glue that sets up quickly and dries clear will work fine. You could also use a glue gun, but take care as the fabric is very sheer and pressing it down with your fingers while hot would be tricky.
As you can see in the above photo, I placed my rows about 5/8" apart, to keep a very full look.
One thing I discovered is that each row of ruffle can be a different width. Some upper rows may actually overlap the one below. Don't worry. It all adds to the fullness of the look, and in the end won't even be noticeable.
Continue making your rounds, working towards the top. Don't stop until you reach the end of your length, then slightly overlap and continue. You want the ends to be at random places throughout the shade, not in the same place each row.
As I neared the top, I carefully removed the gimp trim that was attached to the edge. It was originally put on with double-sided tape so it was fairly easy to take off. Just use some extra care at the ends where it joins, so that you do not unravel it.
When you reach the top with your ruffled fabric, re-attach the gimp for a finished look.
That's all there is to it! So simple and beautiful.
This lamp would be especially lovely in a bedroom or studio space, but for now I think I will keep it by the couch so that I can "love on it" from my desk across the room. It puts out a soft and dreamy glow, just perfect for the cooler weather.
I hope you try one of these shades. The process is so easy and the results are amazing!
(If you need some ruffled organza fabric of your very own, there is a limited quantity still available.)
